Windsor and Maidenhead

Windsor and Maidenhead's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Windsor and Maidenhead increased by 8.2%, from almost 134,000 to 145,000.

The addition of just under 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Windsor and Maidenhead was home to, on average, 5.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Windsor and Maidenhead

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Windsor and Maidenhead increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This affluent suburban area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 16% of people in Windsor and Maidenhead are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Windsor and Maidenhead by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Windsor and Maidenhead

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 22% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 22% in 2001

The number of people in Windsor and Maidenhead that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to just over 31,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 22% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Windsor and Maidenhead that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 98,000 in 2001 to just over 90,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 9,100 to about 10,000 (from 6.8% to 7.0%).

About 5,700 people (2.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 3,200 in 2001 (3.9%).

The population without a religion in Windsor and Maidenhead increased by 7.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Windsor and Maidenhead by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Windsor and Maidenhead

The percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.0% to 2.5% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.7%, while the percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Windsor and Maidenhead

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 86% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 86% in 2001

The number of people in Windsor and Maidenhead from the White ethnic groups remained close to just over 120,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 92% to 86%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Windsor and Maidenhead from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 6,800 in 2001 to about 14,000 in 2011 (from 5.1% to 9.6%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,900 to about 3,300 (from 1.4% to 2.3%).

Just over 1,700 people (0.5%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 660 in 2001 (1.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Windsor and Maidenhead decreased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Windsor and Maidenhead by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Windsor and Maidenhead, but at a slower rate than in Slough (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Windsor and Maidenhead).

In Windsor and Maidenhead, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Slough increased from 11% to 24%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Windsor and Maidenhead increased from 12% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 68%.

Private renting in Windsor and Maidenhead increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Windsor and Maidenhead, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.8% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 9.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Windsor and Maidenhead decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Windsor and Maidenhead, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Windsor and Maidenhead

The percentage of households without children fell here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Slough.

In Windsor and Maidenhead, the proportion of households without children decreased from 62% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Slough decreased from 56% to 51%.

Across the South East, the share of households without children decreased from 62% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in Windsor and Maidenhead increased from 28% to 30%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.5% to 9.3%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Windsor and Maidenhead

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Windsor and Maidenhead, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Windsor and Maidenhead, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 30% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Windsor and Maidenhead fell from 55% to 53%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.4% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households with an unmarried couple increased in Windsor and Maidenhead, while falling in nearby Slough.

In Windsor and Maidenhead, the proportion went up from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011, while across England it fell from 11% to 7.5%. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.7% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with only one person in Windsor and Maidenhead remained close to 28%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 41% to 39%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents that were self-employed increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Windsor and Maidenhead increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Windsor and Maidenhead, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employees working less than 16 weekly hours increased from 5.6% to 6.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census remained close to 4.6%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.9% in 2001 to 7.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.4% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Windsor and Maidenhead residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Windsor and Maidenhead remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Windsor and Maidenhead by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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